Masters by Research in Health and Life Sciences - MRes
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The Masters by Research (MRes) in Health and Life Sciences course is a flexible research-based course designed to provide graduates with a foundation for a career in research, the public/private sector, healthcare or academia (i.e. PhD studies)....
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- Level Postgraduate Research
- Study mode Full Time/Part Time
- Award MRes
- Start date September 2026, January 2027
- Fees View course fees
- Subjects
- Location City South
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
The Masters by Research (MRes) in Health and Life Sciences course is a flexible research-based course designed to provide graduates with a foundation for a career in research, the public/private sector, healthcare or academia (i.e. PhD studies). The purpose is to offer high quality postgraduate training in methods and practice of research and relevant transferable skills that offer a unique learning experience to advance knowledge within your specialist area of either Life Sciences, Sport and Exercise, Psychology or Health.
The course allows for plenty of opportunities to craft the course to your needs, along with the chance to specialise in an area of choice. You will benefit from being able to work within, and study alongside, a multidisciplinary team of experienced researchers and health professionals. The course is suitable for diverse backgrounds including, but not limited to, sports, medicine, nursing, midwifery, allied health professions, social work, psychology social and natural science, where a research focussed career in Sport and Exercise, Life Sciences, Psychology or Health is of interest to you.
The course offers four possible routes:
- Life Sciences
- Sport and Exercise
- Health
- Psychology
What's covered in this course?
Throughout the course you will develop a keen understanding of advanced research methods. This will take you on the journey from an initial research idea and proposal, to embedding research philosophy and contemporary methodologies and analysis within your work. This is geared towards producing a piece of research that could be pursued further at doctoral level, for a publication, or display the relevant skills to be competent within industry, healthcare or the public sector.
Given that careers in research are growing, including those in industry, this MRes will prepare you to be able to disseminate complex research to a wide variety of audiences. In addition, you will gain an understanding of how this can be delivered through technology enhanced learning. This aims to try to bridge the gap between researchers and society when trying to ensure evidence-based research-informed practice occurs. In turn, this will allow you to maximise the impact of research dissemination, whilst also ensuring you foster contemporary approaches to scholarship.
To help build these skills there are opportunities to work in hand with industry through our wide range of industrial, educational, and healthcare partners, something which will enhance your future employability or potential for progression. This will primarily be housed at our campus in Edgbaston, Birmingham, which contains state-of-the-art facilities to support you with your research.
Why Choose Us?
- Campus – Our City South campus has state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge resources and equipment to support your research.
- Partnerships – We have unique partnerships in sport, health, psychology and life sciences to support your learning and ensure your research has a practice-led, knowledge-applied approach.
- Employment/further study opportunities – This course is the perfect preparation to continue your studies at doctoral level, or pursue employment in a research related role.
- Research community – As part of your course, your research will be aligned to our research centres in order to create a vibrant and exciting research community.
Research Interests
Key areas of academic expertise, that we actively encourage applications in, include:
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Sport and exercise sciences
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Health and wellbeing
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Physical activity, nutrition
-
Health sciences
-
Allied health professions
-
Biological sciences
-
Biomedical sciences
- Psychology
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Physiology, and any other topic very closely aligned to our research Centre for Life and Sport Sciences (C-LaSS).
Applicants are strongly advised to consult the C-LaSS Centre for Life and Sport Sciences) and Psychology to ensure their topic of interest aligns with our staff expertise.
In joining this course, you will be part of the wider research community. You will be encouraged to join at least one research clusters, which provide a forum for discussing, progressing, and presenting research through meetings and events.
We have research clusters in:
These ongoing activities support your learning and development as a researcher and provide you with a scholarly network, as well as a sense of belonging to a community, which is particularly important for independent postgraduate researchers.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MRes
Starting: Sep 2026
Pathway: Health
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £6,400 in 2026/27
- Part Time
- 24 months
- £3,200 in 2026/27
Award: MRes
Starting: Jan 2027
Pathway: Health
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £6,400 in 2026/27
- Register interest
- Part Time
- 24 months
- £3,200 in 2026/27
- Register interest
Award: MRes
Starting: Sep 2026
Pathway: Life Sciences
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £6,400 in 2026/27
- Part Time
- 24 months
- £3,200 in 2026/27
Award: MRes
Starting: Jan 2027
Pathway: Life Sciences
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £6,400 in 2026/27
- Register interest
- Part Time
- 24 months
- £3,200 in 2026/27
- Register interest
Award: MRes
Starting: Sep 2026
Pathway: Psychology
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £6,400 in 2026/27
- Part Time
- 24 months
- £6,400 in 2026/27
Award: MRes
Starting: Jan 2027
Pathway: Psychology
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £6,400 in 2026/27
- Register interest
- Part Time
- 24 months
- £6,400 in 2026/27
- Register interest
Award: MRes
Starting: Sep 2026
Pathway: Sport and Exercise
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £6,400 in 2026/27
- Part Time
- 24 months
- £3,200 in 2026/27
Award: MRes
Starting: Jan 2027
Pathway: Sport and Exercise
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £6,400 in 2026/27
- Register interest
- Part Time
- 24 months
- £3,200 in 2026/27
- Register interest
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MRes
Starting: Sep 2026
Pathway: Health
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £18,970 in 2026/27
Award: MRes
Starting: Jan 2027
Pathway: Health
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £18,970 in 2026/27
- Register interest
Award: MRes
Starting: Sep 2026
Pathway: Life Sciences
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £18,970 in 2026/27
Award: MRes
Starting: Jan 2027
Pathway: Life Sciences
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £18,970 in 2026/27
- Register interest
Award: MRes
Starting: Sep 2026
Pathway: Psychology
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £18,970 in 2026/27
Award: MRes
Starting: Jan 2027
Pathway: Psychology
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £18,970 in 2026/27
- Register interest
Award: MRes
Starting: Sep 2026
Pathway: Sport and Exercise
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £18,970 in 2026/27
Award: MRes
Starting: Jan 2027
Pathway: Sport and Exercise
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £18,970 in 2026/27
- Register interest
If you’re unable to use our online application form for any reason, please get in touch.
Entry requirements
|
Minimum 2:1 UK degree or international equivalent in a relevant discipline. |
|
You are also required to provide a written Personal Statement and a project proposal. The project proposal should be no more than one side of A4 and outline what you want to explore in your research project and why. |
EU/International
|
IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 minimum in all bands, or equivalent. |
|
For other accepted qualifications see Accepted qualifications and English tests. |
Course in Depth
Level 7
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all of the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits)
Becoming an Impactful Researcher is designed to equip postgraduate researchers with the essential understanding, skills and approaches needed to maximise the impact of their research in academia and beyond. This module explores both theoretical frameworks and practical strategies for developing into an impactful researcher in today's complex research landscape.
Holding principles and practice in dialogue, the module will critically engage with the contexts, cultures and consequences of the impact agenda as well as exploring how impact can be achieved throughout the different stages of a research project: from inspiration and collaboration to dissemination and public engagement. Through interactive seminars, work packs, showcases and case studies, students will experiment with engaging diverse audiences with different messages through varied media and
communication modes, critically reflecting on the value of these impact pathways for stakeholders, society and for themselves as developing researchers.
Special attention is given to the experiences and ethics of impact generation and the consequences they have, particularly for early career researchers. Students will reflect on this in developing their personal impact strategies as part of the assessment.
By the end of this module, students will have developed a comprehensive understanding of research impact, enhanced their strategic thinking abilities, and have developed a practical toolkit for maximising the reach and influence of their research throughout their careers.
This module enables you to develop and critically reflect on your intended approach to carrying out a research project. On successfully completing the module you will be able to effectively articulate a research project proposal and questions, the methods you intend to employ and anticipated outcomes. This will be demonstrated through a research proposal, which should then be delivered within the ‘Independent Study’ module.
The Masters by Research Dissertation is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a substantial piece of research in your chosen subject or discipline.
Download course specification
Download nowEmployability
Employability
This course has been designed with creativity and flexibility in mind, therefore allowing you to first learn then apply skills in self-management, leadership and initiative. As a result, this helps you to build the problem-solving skills and interpersonal skills to be an effective employee upon graduation. There are also many areas of reflective practice throughout the course, to ensure you become a lifelong learner and always possess a willingness to learn.
Facilities & Staff
We have invested over £500 million in our facilities, including specialist Skills and Simulation facilities and Biomedical Science labs at City South Campus. We also have Psychology facilities and equipment in our Curzon Building on City Centre Campus, and Sports students have access to our industry-standard equipment at the inspiring Alexander Stadium. Our innovative facilities simulate the real situations that you may come across in the workplace. These resources are essential in offering you a hands-on introduction to research and practice.
Explore our Sport and Life Sciences facilities Explore our Psychology facilities Explore our Health facilities
Our staff
Dr Vivek Indramohan
Associate Professor and Course Lead - Biomedical Engineering
With an overseas research student award (ORSAS) and University of Strathclyde scholarship, Vivek completed his Ph.D. (in Bioengineering) in 2009. Following the completion of his research degree, he commenced his work as a Research Assistant at University College of London (UCL) for 6 months, during which he was successful in obtaining a...
More about VivekDr Adam Herbert
Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science (Physiology)
Adam joined BCU in 2018 and is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science, specialising in Physiology. He has extensive applied experience within the area having worked with a wide range of athletes and individuals providing educational support, physiological assessment, hydrotherapy sessions as well as strength and conditioning services.
More about AdamDr Lewis Gough
Professor of Nutrition and Physiology
Lewis is part of the Senior Leadership Team in the College of Life Sciences and is the College Academic Lead for REF (Research Excellence Framework). He also holds editorial board positions with numerous high quality international refereed journals and is known worldwide for his work on sodium bicarbonate supplementation.
More about LewisDr K Louise McKnight
Senior Lecturer in Radiography
Louise is a Diagnostic Radiographer who worked in clinical practice for many years and brings that experience to vocational degree teaching in a higher education setting. Her research interest is the pedagogy of research in radiography, for which she continues to develop her Doctoral work on an innovative qualitative data collection and analysis...
More about K LouiseDr Irmgard Haussmann
Associate Professor in Health Sciences
Irmgard is an Associate Professor in Health Sciences and teaches at undergraduate and postgraduate level. In her role as Director of Postgraduate Research Degrees for Life and Sport she leads all aspects of recruitment and student experiences for PhD Life and Sport Sciences.
More about IrmgardDr Pelham Carter
Associate Professor in Psychology
Pelham was drawn to Psychology initially by his interest in animal behavior, then followed maze experiments and finally using virtual environments to explore human behavior.
More about Pelham